Water-closet.



P. A. SCHOSSOW.

1 WATER CLOSET.

APPLICATION FILED 001220, 1911.

1,031,876. Patented July 9,1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. SCHOSSOW, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WATER-CLOSET. 1

To all 101mm 2'! may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. Scuossow,citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne,State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inVVater-Closets, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in water closets, its objectbeing to provide means for automatically raising the seat to asubstantially vertical position whereby suitable flushing mechanism (notshown) may be actuated and also to adapt it for use as a urinal.

A further object is to provide means whereby the raising or lowering ofthe seat is accomplished gradually, under check, to avoid noise and jaror injury to the bowl, tank, or seat.

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specificationz-Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a closet and the seat controlling mechanism, showing indotted lines the seat elevated, also the corresponding position of theseat controlling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with partsin elevation, of the seat check and weight. Fig. 3 is a similar view ofa modification. Fig. 4 is a per spcctive view of the bracket arm securedto the seat from which the check weight is suspended. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the air regulating screw carried by the checkplunger.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings :Aindicates acloset bowl. B its seat hinged at b to the bowl.

C is a bracket arm secured at one end to the seat B.

D is a weight suspended from a pivot pin 0 mounted in the outer end ofthe bracket arm. The weight D is of annular form surrounding a tube orcylinder E within which reciprocates a plunger F.

G is a plunger rod provided at its lower end with a suitable ball joint9 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) housed within a suitable floorsocket g. The plunger F is con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 20, 1911.

Patented July 9, 1912.

Serial No. 655,689.

structed with two annular disks f, f, mounted on the plunger rod Gbetween which is housed a leather or other cup-washer 7.

f is an expansion ring set in the flange of the disk f to force theflange of the cupwasher in contact with the cylinder E. The end of theplunger rod G is provided with an air passage G, opening into thecylinder on opposite sides of the plunger F.

H is a wedge-shaped regulating screw for governing the passage of airthrough the port G and thereby the speed at WlllCll the weight ispermitted to travel.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, a

plunger provided with a pair of cupwashers f is indicated held betweensuitable annular disks sleeved on the plunger rod G. Mounted on the endof the plunger is an adjustable cap I perforated at i for the passage ofair. Housed within the cap is a disk J perforated for the passage ofair, having an inverted cone-shaped underface j and a depending stem Jextending into the air passage G. K is a tapering thumb screw supportedin the wall of the plunger rod upon which the end of the stem J rests. Lis a spring lodged within the cap I (by adjusting which the tension maybe regulated), one end of the spring bearing upon the disk J to forcethe end of its stem into abutting relation with the thumb screw K. Itwill be seen that by adjusting the screw K the disk J may be raisedagainst the action of the spring L and the air passage through theplunger regulated by the cone-shaped underface of the disk thusproviding for a slow upward movement of the seat under check incomparison with a relatively quicker return movement of the seat butunder check. It being obvious that the air passing through the plungerwill raise the disk J against the action of the spring with comparativefreedom, permitting the seat to be quickly returned to its horizontalposition, but when the air passes through the plunger from above (thecourse taken upon the seat being raised) the seat movement will bechecked to a greater extent due to the degree of adjustment afforded bythe screw K governing the passage of air down through the plunger.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, theconstruction and operation of the device will be readily understood.Assuming the seat to be in the position indi catfid in Fig. 1,upon beingreleased from this position the weight D will serve to rock the seat onits hinge pivots causing it to swing to the position shown by the dottedlines, its speed being regulated however through the action of theplunger F in the cylinder E. The movement of the plunger is controlledby adjusting the wedge-shaped screw Il governing the passage of airthrough the plunger.

It will be seen that the construction shown in Fig. 2, provides againsta too rapid upward movement of the seat due to careless handling ormaliciousness. which may result in injury to the wall, tank or seat,while in the modification shown in Fig. 3, the movement of the seat isheld under check when traveling in either direction thereby protectingin addition the howl from injury.

By housing the means employed to regulate the speed or travel of theweight within the weight itself and by providing a relatively large andnarrow closure cap I), making it necessary to use a suitable wrenchbefore access to the plunger and its speed regulating screw can beobtained. I provide in a great measure against malicious tampering bymischievous or unauthorized persons, heretofore regarded as a seriousobjection to devices of this character when employed in connection withclosets installed in schools or other public buildings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:--

1. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a hinged seat,an annular weight suspemled from the seat for elevating the latter. areciprocating plunger housed within the weight having a rod projectingbeyond the end of the weight adapted for flexible connection with anengaging membcr, said plunger also provided with an air passage openinginto the annular weight on opposite sides of the plunger, and means forregulating the passage of air through the plunger.

2. In a device of the character described, a closet. bowl, a hingedseat, an annular weight suspended from the seat for elevating thelatter, a reciprocating plunger housed within the weight, a rod uponwhich the plunger is mounted adapted for flexible engagement with anengaging member, said rod provided with an air passage having its entryand discharge ports within the annular weight and on opposite sides ofthe plunger, and means for regulating the capacity of said air passage.

3. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a hinged seat,an annular weight suspended from the seat a cylindrical lining for saidweight, a reciprocating plunger housed within the lining having a rodprojecting beyond the end of the. weight adapted for flexible connectionwith an engaging member, said rod provided with an air passage openinginto said lining on opposite sides of the plunger, and means forregulating the delivery of air through said passage.

4. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a hinged seat,an annular weight suspended from the seat, a cylindrical lining for saidweight, a. reciprocating plunger housed within the lining having a redprojecting beyond the end of the weight adapted for flexible connectionwith an engaging member, said rod provided with an air passage openinginto said lining on 0pposite sides of the plunger, and a regulatingscrew for controlling the exit of air through said passage.

In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a hinged seat, abracket arm secured to the seat, an annular weight suspended from thearm, a reciprocating plunger housed within the weight provided with anair passage through the plunger and a rod projecting beyond the end ofthe weight adapted for flexible connection with a floor engaging member,the floor engaging member, and a closure cap for the end of the weightencircling said rod.

(3. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a hingedseat, an annular weight suspended with the seat for elevating thelatter, a reciprocating plunger housed within the weight, a rod uponwhich the plunger is mounted adapted for flexible engagement with anengaging member, said rod provided with an air passage having its entryand discharge ports within the annular weight and 011 opposite sides ofthe plunger, and means whereby said seat may be actuated more rapidly inone direction than when traveling in the opposite direction.

7. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a hinged seat,an annular weight suspended from the seat for elevating the latter, areciprocating plunger housed within the weight, a rod upon which theplunger is mounted adapted for flexible engagement with an engagingmember, said rod provided with an air passage having its entry anddischarge ports within the annular weight and on opposite sides of theplunger, and means for controlling said air passage whereby the air maypass through the plunger more rapidly when the plunger is moving in onedirection than when traveling in the opposite direction.

8. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a hinged seat,an annular weight suspended from the seat, a cylindrical lining for saidweight, a reciprocating plunger housed within the lining having a rodprojecting beyond the end of the weight adapted for flexible connectionwith an engaging member, said rod provided with an air passage openinginto said lining on 0pposite sides of the plunger, a spring controlledcheck valve in the air passage, and a regulating screw for controllingthe exit of air through said passage.

9. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a seat hingedto the bowl, means carried by the seat and bodily movable therewith forautomatically raising the latter and a dash pot within theaforementioned means for checking the raising movement of the seat.

10. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a seat hingedto the bowl, means for elevating the seat, and means disposed within theafore-mentioned means 15 for checking the raising action of the seat.

11. In a device of the character described, a closet bowl, a seat hingedto the bowl, :1 Weight for automatically raising the seat, and means inthe Weight for cushioning the seat upon the raising action.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERICK A. SCHOSSOW.

*itnesses:

GRACE E. VVYNKooP, SAMUEL E. THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

